All-Ireland junior football championship semi-final

New York 1-7 Warwickshire 0-7

By Paul Keane at GAA National Games Development Centre, Abbotstown

Brian Coughlan's stunning solo goal separated the sides as New York returned to the All-Ireland junior football championship final.

Beaten by Kilkenny in last year's decider, Johnny McGeeney's side will be back in Croke Park on Sunday for a shot at redemption.

They had to come from behind to secure that golden ticket though, trailing by three points approaching half-time before limiting Warwickshire to just two more points.

Coughlan's 35th minute goal put the Charlie O'Donnell managed outfit ahead for the first time and they remained in pole position from there.

It was a goal worthy of settling the contest as the Rockland clubman slalomed through the centre of the Warwickshire defence before planting to the net.

Coughlan added a point to bring his tally to 1-2 as New York secured a final date with holders Kilkenny or London on Sunday at Croke Park (1.30pm). 

Warwickshire, fresh off beating London by 1-18 to 1-15 to claim the All-Ireland Britain title in mid-June, set themselves up in containment mode.

Conal Dowling was a late addition to the lineup in place of full-forward Mikey McAleer and played as an extra man at the back.

Joel Powney was often their lone attacker but a series of errors and soft concessions left them under pressure initially.

Coughlan opened the scoring for New York and they should have capitalised further but blasted five first-half wides.

Warwickshire lived on scraps at the other end but, crucially, were efficient and Jack Keogh nailed two stunning scores from the right wing.

Eoghan O'Sullivan followed his lead with back to back scores from the same area and with time running out in the half, Warwickshire led by 0-5 to 0-2.

New York finished the half strongly though with Shay McEligott firstly converting a free and then fisting over a point.

McElligot had the goal at his mercy with that second opportunity but a point at least cut the deficit and left Warwickshire just 0-5 to 0-4 ahead at the interval.

Warwickshire changed goalkeepers at half-time but unfortunately for Dan Rushe his first piece of action was to pick the ball out of his own net.

Coughlan's goal for New York was a stunner as he raced all the way from his own half before placing the ball in the net.

McElligot and Danny Corridan added points and with 20 minutes to go, New York led 1-6 to 0-5.

It was a significant lead in a low scoring encounter played in wet and slippery conditions and New York never looked in trouble from there on.

New York scorers: Brian Coughlan 1-2, Shay McElligot 0-4 (0-2f), Danny Corridan 0-1.

Warwickshire scorers: Jack Keogh 0-2, Eoghan O'Sullivan 0-2, Joel Powney 0-1 (0-1f), Michael Mannion 0-1, Louis Monahan 0-1.

NEW YORK: Ryan Corrigan; Paidi Mathers, Dylan Curran, Peter Cronin; Danny Corridan, Kevin Rafferty, Mikey Boyle; Gearoid Kennedy, Brian Coughlan; Thomas Shalvey, Colm Shalvey, Conor Mathers; Shay McElligot, CJ Molloy, Shane Slattery.

Subs: Emmet Loughran for Slattery h/t, Chris Mulvihill for T Shalvey h/t, Shane Doheny for Cronin 45, Aiden Lawler for Molloy 46, Kaelan Walsh for C Shalvey 57.

WARWICKSHIRE: James Connolly; Declan O'Brien, Niall McGovern, Jack Chapman; Conal Dowling; Paddy Kilkenny, Michael Mannion, Sean Doyle; Michael McGettrick, Sean Dirrane; Eoghan O'Sullivan, Jack Keogh, Niall Gilbride; Ryan Flanagan, Joel Powney.

Subs: Dan Rushe for Connolly h/t, Liam Gilbride for Kilkenny 33, Callum Maguire for O'Brien 40, Louis Monahan for Flanagan 43, Mikey McAleer for Dirrane 52.

Referee: Fintan Pierce (Offaly).